Analysis of Gordon Woods the Radicalism of the American Revolution

Connor Lacasse

11/22/2012

The Radicalism of the American Revolution

Prompt: 1.) When Gordon Wood insists the American Revolution was radical, what does he mean? What is the nature of this radicalism? Does he convince you?

Gordon Woods book The Radicalism of the American Revolution challenges the established consensus that the American Revolution was not radical. The book is an examination of the democratization of early America as well as an analysis of how the revolution truly was radical. Gordon Woods argues that to base a society on the ordinary behavior of normal people was an extremely radical concept in world history up to the American Revolution.

The American Revolution began when the Seven Year War ended and left Britain in large amounts of debt, forcing governments in London to find ways to make colonies contribute to the cost. The contributions imposed on American colonists by London were direct taxes, followed by laws meant to enforce British authority. Colonial leaders in America believed that power seeks to impose upon liberty and therefore the measures taken by Britain were designed to undermine their freedom. Colonialists came to conclude that association with the British Empire was a threat to freedom, with this conclusion the colonies set out on the path to independence.

The well-established consensus about the American Revolution is that is was not a radical movement. More differences then similarities can be found when comparing the American Revolution to what is considered a radical revolution. These characteristics include people being killed, property being destroyed and the spread of absolute chaos. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the Leaders of the American Revolution, were not typical reckless and angry revolutionists. They did not strive for violence but instead peace. The causes of the American Revolution were anything but extreme. There were no social injustices, class conflicts or economic depravations....